Addictive Behaviors And Addiction: Do Any Of These 7 Symptoms Look Familiar?

When people refer to addiction drug addiction or alcoholism comes first to mind, but inreality addiction is broader in scope than that.

There are process addictions in in addition to addiction to illegal drugs or alcohol. These addictions are related to compulsive behavior such as shopping, gambling, and disordered eating. Being active in addiction hurts not only yourself but people around you. This raises questions. What is the definition of addiction? Where is the starting point? Crossing the line from a behavior into addiction is a difficult point to ascertain?

It is a fact that some people can engage in a behavior or use alcohol and chemicals and not become addicted. Victims of addiction have lost the ability to control or stop their user behaviors. Social position, economic status, race or religion does not matter when it comes to addiction.

All addicts are not alike. There is no poster child. Despite a lot of study scientists cannot agree on the causes or cures for addiction. A really difficult part of addiction to measure is the emotional impact. Often addiction is fed by the seeming relief it can bring from uncomfortable emotions. It is strange that the more one indulges in addiction the worse the effects and the greater the need to soothe the negative effects.

While addiction manifests itself in different people in different ways, here are the most common signs and symptoms of addiction:

Symptom 1 - Unable to meet responsibilities of relationships or at home, school or work.

Symptom 2 - Compulsive preoccupation, meaning one spends a great deal of time thinking about the substance or behavior

Symptom 3 - Has tried but failed to stop using the substance or end the behavior. Loss of control has set in.

Symptom 4 - Engages in the behavior or substance use knowing it is dangerous or in dangerous situations such as driving.

Symptom 5 - Because of the addiction, one stops activities or hobbies that were fun or enjoyable.

Symptom 6 - There is a need to increase the amount and frequency of the behavior or substance to achieve the desired felling or affect.

Symptom 7 - Ones life has become centered around the addiction, isolation from others occurs.

The time has come to talk to someone if any of the above signs and symptoms are prone in your life. Addiction will always progress toward the wars. Left alone, the addiction will get worse.

There is more information available here on addiction treatment.